Lincoln's God: How Faith Transformed a President and a Nation

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This work chronicles Lincoln's spiritual evolution from a skeptic to America's first evangelical Christian president during the Civil War, highlighting how this transformation influenced both the war and Protestantism. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Lincoln distanced himself from organized Christianity, never formally joining a church and only occasionally attending services with his wife. However, as he recognized the growing influence of Christian churches and faced personal tragedy, he became a more devout figure, suggesting that the war represented divine retribution for slavery. The narrative delves into how religion shaped the perspectives of countless Northerners amidst the turmoil of the 1850s and 1860s. Rather than concentrating on military events, the author explores the war's social impact on spiritual beliefs and how these beliefs motivated individuals to fight. The book features notable figures like Harriet Beecher Stowe and Frederick Douglass, alongside ordinary soldiers and families whose evolving views on mortality and divine purpose fueled their commitment. It argues that evangelical Christianity significantly influenced both the battlefield and the home front, with Lincoln uniquely leveraging religious fervor to garner support for his political agenda. Ultimately, the narrative reveals the complexities of Lincoln's faith and the posthumous portrayal of him as a Christian martyr, challenging simplified int